A treatise on the principles and practice of ophthalmic medicine and surgery

Historical Significance: Thomas Wharton Jones FRS (1808 - 1891) was an eminent ophthalmologist and physiologist of the 19th century. He grew up in Scotland and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. From 1827 to 1829, he was an assistant to Robert Knox, a lecturer in anatomy at Edinburgh. Around Christmas of 1827, while working for Knox, he purchased a body on Knox's behalf, paying ?7 10s. Jones thus became caught up in the scandal surrounding the notorious body-snatchers Burke and Hare, but was cleared by the investigating committee. After this, he went to Glasgow, where he worked with William Mackenzie. Jones contributed the anatomical drawings of sections of the eye that appeared in Mackenzie's classic treatise. Jones was appointed Professor of Ophthalmic Medicine and Surgery at University College, London and occupied this post for 30 years until ill health forced his retirement 1881, Jones was a Lecturer in Physiology at Charing Cross Hospital, Fullerian Professor of Physiology in the Royal Institution (1851-55), and Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Hospital. Jones disagreed with the Darwinian theory of evolution, regarding it as a "mere conceit unsanctioned by science," and published a book in 1876 propounding this view. He also published 'A catechism of the medicine and surgery of the eye and ear, for the clinical use of hospital students', London: John Churchill, 1857; 'A catechism of the physiology and philosophy of body, sense, and mind: For use in schools and colleges, and in private study', London: John Churchill, 1858; 'Failure of sight from railway and other injuries of the spine and head; London: Walton, 1869.